Rundfunkchor Berlin

Biography

Winner of a Grammy® in 2008, 2009 and 2011, Rundfunkchor Berlin is a regular guest at all
the major festivals and the chosen partner of international orchestras and conductors such
as Sir Simon Rattle, Christian Thielemann, Seiji Ozawa or Yannick Nézet-Séguin. It is the
permanent partner of the Berliner Philharmoniker as well as of Berlin’s Deutsches
Symphonie-Orchester and Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester and their conductors.

The exceptional breadth of its repertoire, its stylistic versatility, absolute precision, delight in
experimentation, stunning responsiveness and an unmistakable warm, richly nuanced sound
all contribute to making it one of the world’s outstanding choral ensembles.
Rundfunkchor Berlin’s experimental series, “Broadening the Scope of Choral Music”, has
attracted great worldwide attention. Here, in collaboration with artists from diverse
disciplines, the chorus is breaking down the classical concert formation and adopting new
modes of choral music for a new audience.

Some prime examples: Rodion Shchedrin’s The Sealed Angel employing five dancers has
now been seen in many different countries; the performance of Sir John Tavener’s The Veil
of the Temple in Berlin’s museum for contemporary art was visually enhanced and filmed by
Boomtown Media in 2009; Gustav Holst’s Sāvitri was performed with female contortionists in
the Berlin techno club Berghain in 2010; and in 2012 an interactive scenic version of
Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem was staged by Jochen Sandig / Sasha Waltz & Guests.
With its annual activities for various target groups – the big “Sing-along Concert” and the
“Festival of Cultures” in the Berlin Philharmonie, the,“Berlin LeaderChor” for managers, and
the “Liederbörse” (Song Exchange) for children and young people, as well as with the longterm
education programme “SING!” – Rundfunkchor Berlin invites people of all ages and
walks of life to become immersed in the world of professional choral music.

In 2012, the ensemble invites young professional choral conductors for the second time to its
Berlin International Masterclass.
Founded in 1925 and shaped by conductors including Helmut Koch, Dietrich Knothe (1982-
93) and Robin Gritton (1994-2001), Rundfunkchor Berlin has been directed since 2001 by
Simon Halsey.
Rundfunkchor Berlin is an ensemble of Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre Gmbh, Berlin
(Shareholders: Deutschlandradio, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Berlin and
Radio Berlin-Brandenburg).